Волшебство страны Оз
12. Kiki Uses His Magic
"
ThatpleasedthegreatLeopard,whosaidveryquickly:
"Yes;you,atleast,arewelcometomyforest.Butwhoarethesestrangerswithyou?"
"Dorothyhasintroducedherself,"repliedtheLion,"andyouaresuretolikeherwhenyouknowherbetter.ThismanistheWizardofOz,afriendofminewhocandowonderfultricksofmagic.Andhereismytrueandtriedfriend,theHungryTiger,wholiveswithmeintheEmeraldCity."
"IsheALWAYShungry?"askedLootheUnicorn.
"Iam,"repliedtheTiger,answeringthequestionhimself."Iamalwayshungryforfatbabies."
"Can’tyoufindanyfatbabiesinOztoeat?"inquiredLoo,theUnicorn.
"Thereareplentyofthem,ofcourse,"saidtheTiger,"butunfortunatelyIhavesuchatenderconsciencethatitwon’tallowmetoeatbabies.SoI’malwayshungryfor’emandnevercaneat’em,becausemyconsciencewon’tletme."
Nowofallthesurprisedbeastsinthatclearing,notonewassomuchsurprisedatthesuddenappearanceofthesefourstrangersasRuggedotheNome.Hewasfrightened,too,forherecognizedthemashismostpowerfulenemies;buthealsorealizedthattheycouldnotknowhewastheformerKingoftheNomes,becauseofthebeast’sformhewore,whichdisguisedhimsoeffectually.SohetookcourageandresolvedthattheWizardandDorothyshouldnotdefeathisplans.
Itwashardtotell,justyet,whatthevastassemblageofbeaststhoughtofthenewarrivals.Someglaredangrilyatthem,butmoreofthemseemedtobecuriousandwondering.Allwereinterested,however,andtheykeptveryquietandlistenedcarefullytoallthatwassaid.
